Safety device for sidewalk-elevator-shaft doors and the like



Feb,-2@, 1923. 1,446,299; w G. G. LAUREYNS;

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SIDEWALK ELEVATOR ,s 'A'FTppORs AND THE LIKE.

FILED mu. s,- iszzi I 15i. HE ETSL-SHEET 1.

mmllllllllllifi Feb,j20, 1923.

' 1,446,299. G G.LAUREYNIS. V

SAFETY DEVICE 'FOR' SIDEWAYLK ELEVATOR 31 DOORS AND THE LIKE. V

I FILED T 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' I mommy Feb. 20%, 1923;

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SIDEWALK. ELEVATOR, SHAFT DOORS AND THE LIKE! fIL D J 'N 1'92 e. GILAUREYNS 5 SHEETS-SHEET 1 A q A ='z ATTORNEY;

Feb. 20, 1923. 1,446,299.

G. G. LAUREYNS.

SIFETY DEVICE FOR SIDEWALK ELEVATOR SHAFT moons AND THE LIKE.

FILED JAN. 5,1922. 5 SHEETSSHEET 4.

M26 m \LHHHIHHHHIH "i 25 ATTORNEY.

Feb. 20, 1923.

G." G. LAUREYNS. SAFETY DEVICE FOR SIDEWALK ELEVATOR SHAFT DOORS AND THE LIKE.

5 SHEETSSHZE ET a.

rush JAN. 5, 1922.

Patented Feb. 2h, i923.

with

.eii lOFtfiEg,

oos'rnvn s. LaUanYNs, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

Application filed January 5, 1922. Serial no. 537,174.

1 '0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, GUSTAVE LAUREYNS, a (itizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county Oil Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Sidewalk-Elevator-Shalt Doors and the like, of which the tolhnving is a specificw tion.

Sidewalk elevators or hoists are well known, and they are chiefly employed for conveying freight from the level of the sidewalk to the cellar or sub-cellar and from the cellar or sub-cellar to thelcvel of the sidewalk. Above the elevator or hoist, the sidewalk contains an opening of about the same dimensions as the flooring Of the elevator or hoist, and ordinarily this opening is equipped with a pair of hinged doors or a rectangular lid for closing it and which doors or l'id i'nay be moved upwardly to open position by portions oi? the upper end of the elevator car or hoist, when the latter is ascending, pressing against the same.

It has frequently happened, and would happen more often except for the presence of an extra attendant to prevent the same, that the elevator or hoist has moved upwardly against the closed doors or lid when persons were standing thereon. The dangers incident to moving the elevator or hoist upwardly against the doors or lid while persons are standing or walking thereon, have been realized, and the usual method for avoiding the same is the employment of an extra attendant whose duty it is to see that the doors are cleared and then to signal to the attendant in the cellar tostart the elevator or hoist. i

A further source of danger incident to the employment of sidewalkelevators or hoists arises when merchandise is temporarily piled on the sidewalk and upon the closed doors or lid over the shaftior hoistway under the mistaken thought that the elevator is not to be usedand when under such condition the elevator is set in motion by the operator be low without knowledge of the obstruction above on the doors or lid, since the opening of the doors or lid under such condition is liable to injure the merchandise and prove a source of danger to persons who may be in proximity to the merchandise.

In Letters Patent granted to me on November 11, 1919,No. v1.321.219. is described certain hinged guards, with mechanism for operating the same, arranged to, on the ascent of the elevator car orhoist, sweep or move across the elevator shaft doors or lid for the purpose of clearing persons theretlj'rom preparatory to the doors or lid being opened by pressure exerted against the same by the ascending car or hoist.

My present invention embodies certain further developments of and improvements on or relating to the invention described and claimed in my aforesaid Letters Patent dated November 11, 1919, and one of the main objects of my invention is to more eflectually safeguard the operation of sidewalk elevators against accident to persons whomay be standing or walking on the sidewalk-shaftdoors during the ascent of the car or hoist, or who may be standing or walking near the shaft-doors at a time when merchandise is on said doors and the car or hoist is caused to ascend. In carrying out my present invention I employ the hinged guards disclosed in my aforesaid Letters Patent for clearing shaft-doors preparatory to the opening of the same by the ascending car or hoist, but to further safeguard the operation of the sidewalk elevator, I provide mechanism which automatically efi'ects a slowing up or decrease of the speed of the ascending car or hoist as the same is nearing the sidewalk shaft-doors and stops the movement of the car or hoist entirely in the event that the swinging guards should press against a person or other obstruction which might be on said doors.

In accordance with my present invention the guards when swinging across the elevator shaft-doors will, on striking a person standing on said doors only gently press against such person due to the slowing up of the elevator car and the mechanism of my invention instead of sweeping such person from the doors in a manner which might resalt in injury to the person, and under these conditions the'pressure of the guardagainst the person standing on the shaftdoors will also operate to stop the movement of the car entirely, thereby preventing accidents which might arise from the guards acting with undue force against the persons standing on the doors or from the car moving up against and opening the "doors while a person is standing thereon or before the person has passed entirely from said doors.

'The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter presented,rreference being had to the'accompanying drawings, in which: 7

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly broken away, through a sidewalk elevator shaft and the usual hinged doors therefor, with the features of my invention shown applied in position, the section being taken on the dotted line 1-1 of Fig. '4';

Fig. 2 is a vertical section, tal-zen on the dotted. line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and illustrating more particularly the mechanism for effecting'thestoppage of the elevator car or hoist in the event of the guards, both or. either thereof, moving against a person who may be standing on the shaft-doors during the ascent of the car or hoist; I

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, partly broken away, taken on the dotted line 3-3 ofFi z 1, the mechanism being shown in the position it takes during the ascent of the car or hoist;

Fig. 4% is a corresponding view of the same illustrating the mechanism in the position it occupies during the descent of the car or hoist; i Y

Fig. 5 is a detail view corresponding with Figs. 3 and 1 and illustratinga part of the mechanism in the position it occupies when the car is neutral or stationary at either the top or bottom of its line of travel;

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, taken on the dotted line 6--6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a plan showing aportion of the sidewalk, the elevator shaft-doors and the guards provided for cooperation therewith, said doors being shown in closed position and said guards beingshown in initial position, the dotted lines indicating the sweep of said guards when 'moving to their open position for clearing the doors;

Fig. 8 is. a'front view, with the cover removed, of a casing secured to a wall back of the aforesaid guards and. enclosing the operative mechanism more directly connected with said guards, and

Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse section through the same, taken on the dotted line 9-9 of Fig. 8. the cover for the casing being shown in posit-ion.

In the drawings 15 designates a portion of a sidewalk, 16 a collar, 17 an elevatorshaft, 18 a partition wall separating said shaft from the adjacent part'of the cellar and defining oneside of said shaft, 19 a building or other wall back ofthe elevatorshaft and located at the inneredge of the sidewalk, 20 customary hinged doors for the upper' end of the elevator-shaft and which when closed, as shown in Fig. 1, are about on the same level with the sidewalk, 21 an elevator car or hoist of any, suitable or desired construction located in said shaft, and 22 guards or g. tes which are hinged at their vertical outer ends'to stationary supporting rods 23 whose lower ends are fastened to the sidewalk 15 and whose upper portions are extended inwardly to and secured against the wall 19.

The car or hoist 21 may comprise a platform 24 and the usual. inverted U-shaped frame 25 having a customary cam projection 26 at the apex of its upper bend. The doors 20 are turned upwardly on their hinges by pressure exerted against the same by the frame 25 on the ascent of the car or hoist 21, and when the car or hoist descends the doors 20, resting against the frame 25, gradually turn, downwardly and toward each other to closed position, as usual, the cam 26 performing its customary duty of allowing one door to reach its closed position slightly in advance of the other (10017..

As a part of my present invention 1 equip the car or hoist 21, at one side thereoflwith a tramway bar 2?, which is preferably of commercial channel shape and vertical throughout the greater portion of its length, while its upper and lower ends 23, 29 respectively diverge forwardly. The vertical portion of the bar 27 extends above and be low the platform 24 and the upper portion 28 of said bar inclines upwardly andforwardly to a point nearly on a level with the upper end of the frame 25, as shown in Fig. 1. The purposes of the bar 27 will appear from the description hereinafter presented.

The usual starting andstopping cable for the car or hoist is indicated at 30, and this cable is connected with the customary lever 31 extending from the usual hydraulic 32 (Fig. 6). In this instance the lever 31 extends through a slot 33 in the wall 18 from the cellar 16 into the shaft 17. In accordance with my invention I combine with the lever 31 certain mechanisms to be described hereinafter, for stopping the car or hoist should the-guards 22 meet an obstruction, as a person standing on the doors 20, during their opening movement.

The guards or gates 22 are in themselves similar to the guards or gates described in my aforesaid Letters Patent, but in this instance are combined with certain novel mechanisms which render their presence more desirable and extend the duties they perform. The means more directly connected with the guards 22 for simultaneously opening and closing them are shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 and are substantially the same as the devices forthis purpose illustratedin Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive of my aforesaid Letters Patent and hence the mechanisms shown in said Figs. 7, 8 and 9 require only brief description. The guards 22 are respectively connected by operating rods 34: with horizontal slides 36, 37 mounted in guides 35 of usual type concealed within a casing 38, which is secured to thewall 19 and has as a part thereof a cover 39 (Fig. 9). The'rods 3 1 are pivotally connected with the guards 22 and also with the slides 36, 37. The left hand ends of the slides 36, 37, looking at Fig. 8, are connected together by a chain 40 fold ed upon a sprocket wheel 41, and the right hand ends of the slides 36, 37 are connected together by a chain 42 folded upona sprocket wheel 43, which is secured on an operating shaft 44 carrying, at the frontof the wheel 43, a fixed sprocket wheel 45 upon which is folded a sprocket-chain 46, whose two hanging sections or members I number 47, 48 respectively. lVhen motion is imparted through the chain .46 to the shaft 44 and sprocket wheel 43, the chain 42 is set in motion to pull one or the other of the slides 36, 37, and the movement of the slide due to this pulling action acts through the chain 40 to move the other slide in a reverse direction. When the slides 36, 37 move outwardly in reverse directions, they act'throughthe rods 34 to force the guards 22 to sweep across the shaft-gates 20 to their open position, and when the slides 36, 37 are movedinwardly or in a direction toward each other, they draw the inner ends of the rods 34 toward each other and said rods then draw the guards 22 to their closed position. The guards 22am moved to their open position to clear the shaft-gates 20 when it is desired that the car or hoist shall ascend against and open said gates, and after the car or hoist has sufliciently descended and the gates 20 have closed, said guards 22 re turn to their closedor initial position shown in Fig. 7.

The more essential features of my invention reside in mechanisms located below the sidewalk and cooperating with the car or hoist and guards 22 inYthe attainmentof novel methods ofoperation and results of great advantage.

In the cellar l6'is pivotally mounted, on a. bracket 49, a two-armed lever 50 whichconstitutes an important feature of my new mechanism; the bracket 49 is fastened to the wall 18, and 51 denotes a pin which repre sents the pivotal point or fulcrum of the lever 50 and is supported by said bracket 49. Upon the pin 51 is mounted a small sprocket wheel 52, and in the outer end of the shorter arm of the lever 50 is mounted a sprocket wheel 53. The wheels 52, 53 are spaced apart but are reasonably adjacent to each other, and the bar forming the lever 59 is folded to provide a housing 54 for said wheels, as shown in F 6. The shorter arm of the lever 50 is at the right of the pin 51, looking at Fig. 2, and the-longer arm of said lever extends toward the left, looking at F ig. 2, or forwardly, looking atFig. 6, and is much greater in length than said shorter arm and is preferably provided with a series of adjustment-holes 55 for the end of the chainmemher 47. The chain-member 47 passes down through the sidewalk and against a sprocket wheel 56 and, below the lever 50, said chain-lnember is looped, as at 5 7, and suspends at the bend of its loop a weight 58 carrying at upper end a small rotary sprocket wheel 59 on which said chain mag. have traveling movement. The end of the chain member 47 is fastened to .the lever 50 and closes the loop 57.

The chain-member 48 passes through a hole in the sidewalk and against a sprocket wheel .60 (Fig, l), and ,thence extends on one side and around the bottom of the sprocket wheel 52 and then over the topand down along the outer side of the sprocket wheel53, as shown in Fig. 2, whence said chainmember 48 extends downwardly and at its lower end is fastened to the longer arm of a two-armed lever 61 pivotally mounted on a bracket 62 which is fastened to the wall 16. The shorter arm of the lever 61 has a weight 63 suspended from it and is also pivotally connected with the lower end of a rod 64, whose upper end is pivoted to the outer end of a lever arm 65 which is fast on a rockshaft 66. The shaft 66 extends through the wall 18 into the elevator-shaft 17 and has rigidly secured on its end in said shaft 17 a lever arm 67 whose free end carriesa roller in constant free engagement wit-lithe tramway-bar 27 fastened to the .car or hoist 21.

During the ascent and descent of the carer hoist, the bar 2? acts against the lever-arm 67, and this arm imparts its movement through the rockshaft 66 to the lever-arm 65, which in turn acts against the rod 64 and and parts connected therewith.

The forward end of the lever 50 is connected by a chain 68 (F 2) with a fixed abutment 69, and said chain permits the upward tilting of the forward end of said lever 50 but prevents any undue clownward movement of said end of. said lever. The forward end of the lever 50 is also connected by a chain 70 with the control. lever 31 said chain 70 being looped around apulley wheel l held in a stationary bracket 72. hen the lever 31 is in a neutral position, the chain 70 may sag down from the pulley wheel ll. as shown in Fig. when the lever 31 is moved upwardly to its upper position, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the chain '70 becomes tightened on the pulley wheel 71. and whenthe lever 31 is moved downwardly to its lower position, indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the slackness of the chain 70 below the pulley wheel 71 becomes increased.

The control lever 31 is thus, on one side of the wall. 16. connected with the lever 50 and therethrough wit-lithe mechanism shown in 2 connected with said lever 50; and at the opposite side of said wall 16 or in the shaft 17, said control lever 31 is connected by a looped chain 73 (Fig. 3) with one arm 74 of a bell-cranklever T5 wardly to the position shown in Fig.

79 suspended from it at one end of the chain 73, and this weight keeps the lever-arm 7S pressed against the tramway-bar 27, and when said her leaves the lever arm 78 said weight moves the bell-crank 75, link 77 and lever arm 78 to the position shown in Fig. the free end of said lever-arm being in position to be engagedby the tramway-bar 27' on the subsequent movement of the car or hoist. l" 5 shows the initial orneutral position of the bell-cranklever 75, and lever arm 78, and it will be seen that when the tramway-bar 27 is below the lever arm.

78 and ascends it will move said lever arm and its connected parts to their position shown in Fig. 3, and that when the tramay-bar 27 is above the lever-arm 78 and descends against the same, it will move said lever arm and its connected parts to their position shown in Fig. l, the chain 73 then being slack.

p am am.

Figs. 1 and 3 illustrate the car or hoist 21 as having ascended to a point approximately adjacent to the doors 20. On its ascent the car or hoist carried the tramwaybar 27 against the lever-arm 78 when said arm was horizontal or in the position shown in Fig. 5 and caused said arm to turn up- 3, the effect of which was to cause the link77 to turn the bell-crank arm 74 upwardly and therethrough exert a pull on the chain 7 suilicient to draw the control lever Ell-downwardly from its speed position indicated by dotted lines in li i to the position in which it is shown by solid lines in Fig. 3, thus cutting down the speed of the car or hoist during the concluding portion of its ascent. This reduced speed in the car or hoist will be maintained while the straight vertical portion of the tramway-bar 27 is traveling against the lever-arm 78, and hence it will be understood that while the car is traveling through the final portion of its ascent preparatory to striking and opening the doors it will move on a reduced speed and will not therefore act with violence against said doors, whereby I damage and possible accident are avoided.

hen the ear or hoist reaches, during its ascent, the position indlcated in Fig. 3, the tramway-bar 2: engages the leverarm. 67

and on the further ascent of the car or hoist, said bar 27 will turn said arm 67 up wardly and thereby rotate the shaft 66' and cause the lever-arm to swing toward the left or forwardly, looking at Fig. 2, and lift the rod'G l and weight (33, with the re sult that the longer arm of the lever (51 is turned downwardly and exerts a pull on the chain-member 48 sufficient to open the guards22 outwardly across the doors 20 before the frame 25 on the car or hoist engages said doors and opens them.- The guards 22 sweep across the doors 20 before said doors'are opened. and said guardsremain in their open position during); all the time that the doors stand open.

When the car or hoist descends, the doors 20 automatically close and thereafter the upper end of the tramway-bar 27 rides downwardly in a direction from the free end of the lever-arm 67 and the inclined end 28 of said bar 27 permits the lever-arm 67 to turn to a horizontal position under the downward pull of the weightlitl and rod 6st against the lever-arm 65, which then turns to its normal position shown in Fig. 2 and reverses the motion of the shaft 66 and arm 67. The downward movement of the weight 63 and rod 6e causes the longer arm of the lever 61 to turn upwardly and relax its pull on the chain-member 4:8, and at this time, the weight 58 acting against the chain-member a7 and therethrough against the slides 86, 37, effects the closing of the guards 2 to their initial position.

From the foregoing description of the operation of my mechanism, it will be. seen that from the tramway or bar 27, the car or hoist is automatically caused,-during its ascent, to slow up before striking the doors 20 and that the guards 22 are moved across the doors 20 and to their open position while the car or hoist is on decreased speed and be fore it strikes said doors. The doors 20 automatically close when the car or hoist descends, and on such descent, the'tramway or bar 2'? permits the automatic closing of the guards 22 after the doors 20 have closed and also holds the lever-arm 78 reversed (Fig. 4) with the chain 7 8 slackened, therebv leaving the control-lever 31 to be positioned by the attendant for descent at such speed as he may desire.

Should a person be standing or walking on the doors 20 while the guards 22 are mov ing outwardly to clear said doors, one or both of the guards will move against such person and such person instead of being positively moved with a possibly disagreeable or dangerous speed from the doors, he will offer an obstruction or resistance to the movement of the guards and said guards will yield thereto, this resistance to the movement of the guards acting against the chain-member 48 to stop its traveling movement. At this time however, the car being in motion, the tension or pull on the chainmember 48 must be cared for since otherwise the resistance met by the opening guards 22 would be overcome by the guards. Vhen the guards 22 meet the resistance referred to, the lever 50 is brought into action as a consequence thereof, and said lever under the pull exerted on the lower end of the chain-member 48 by the" lever (31 will turn on its pivot 51 to lower its short arm and the sprocket wheel 53 and elevate its long arm to exert a pull on the chain sufficient to move the control lever 31 to neutral position and stop the car. The lowering of the sprocket wheel 53 relaxes the chainmember 48 below it and thus relieves the guards from the pulling strain of said chain-member to any degree which would be harmful, and the stoppage of the car or hoist by the pull on the chain 70 avoids the accident which would occur if the car or hoist should continue its ascent against the doors 20.

The lever 50 responds sensitively to resistance on the doors 20 to the opening movement of the guards 22,-said lever having the weight 58 at one side of its pivot and the pull of the chain-member e8 at the other side of said pivot, and hence should the guards 22 move against a person standing on the doors 20. the impact would be light and not injurious. The lever 50 is provided with the series of holes for adjusting the connection of the end of the chain-member 4:7 with said lever, thereby adapting the lever to such conditions as may exist and securing in it the desired degree of sensitive action to such resistance asmay be offered to the guards 22. After the obstruction has been removed from the doors 20, the control lever may be moved to again startthe car or hoist on its ascent and at this time. the resistance to the guards 22 having been eliminated the lever 50 will take its normal position and restore the tension in the chain-member 41-8, with the result that the guards 22 will complete'their opening movement and the frame 25 of the car or hoist will pass into engagement with and open the doors 20. If the obstruction on the doors 20 should immediately yield tothe light impact of the guards 22, the guards would continue their opening movement and the car or hoist would continue its ascent.

The mechanisms described as below the sidewalk, have a cooperative relation permitting the several parts thereof to perform their functions under all conditions. F or example, the lever-arm 78 and bell-crank lever have a fixed position when the tramway-bar 27 is against the same, as in Fig. 3, but nevertheless the lever 50 is permitted through the chain 70 to move the control lever 81 to neutral position from the position given to said lever 31 by the action of the tramway-bar 27 against the lever-arm 78. lVhen the tramway-bar 27 is moving against the lever-arm 67, said arm, shaft 66, lever-arm 65, rod 64 and lever-arm 61 have a fixed relation to one another, clue to the rigidity of the bar 27, but nevertheless should an obstruction be on the doors 20 when the guards 22 are moving out wardly, such fixed relation of said parts may continue, since the tension on the chainmember 48 when the guards 22 stop in their movement, results in the lever 50 tilting on its pivot 51 to lower the sprocket wheel 5 and relax the chain-member 4-8 and also to pull on the chain 70 for moving the control lever 31. In the osition of the parts shown in Fig. 2, the car or hoist is stationary and at the bottom of the shaft 17.

I have described hereinbefore the preferred embodiment of my invention but I do not confine my invention to all the details and arrangements shown and described because 1 am familiar with several modified forms of the invention. The invention is one of practical importance inthe field for which it was designed and it is desired that adequate protection be granted for the same.

hat I claim as mv invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is:

1. An elevator-shaft having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapt ed on its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same. in combination, operative mechanism therefor comprising means operable from and by the ascending car or hoist formmoving said guard over the cover preparatory to the openingof the cover and. means interposed in said mechanismfor on the guard meeting an obstruction on its movement yielding thereto and relieving the guard from the force impelling it. i

2. An elevator-shaft having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapted on its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, in combination. operative mechanism therefor comprising means operable from and byathe ascending car or hoist formoving said guard over the cover preparatory to the opening of the cover, means interposed in said mechanism for on the guard meeting an obstruction on its movement, yielding thereto and relieving the guard from the for e impelling it. and means operable from and by said yielding means for cutting off motive power from the car or hoist.

3. An elevator-shaft having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapted on its ascent to displace said cover and p a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, in combination, operative mechanism therefor comprising means operable from and by the ascending car for automatically decreasing the speed of the car before the car engages said cover to open the same, and means also operable from and by'the car after its speed has been reduced for moving said guard across the cover preparatory to the cover being opened by the car.

4. An elevator-shaft having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapted on its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, in combination, operative mechanism therefor comprising means operable from and by the ascending car for automatically decreasing the speed of the car before the car engages said cover to open the same, means also operable from and by the carafter its speed has been reduced for moving said guard across the cover preparatory to the cover being opened by the car, and means interposed in said guard actuating means for on the guard meeting an'obstruction on its movement, yielding thereto and relieving the guard from the force impelling it. p

5. An elevator-shaft having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapted on its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, in combination, operative mechanism therefor comprising means operable from and by the ascending car for automatically decreasing the speed of the car before the car engages said cover to open the same, means also operable from and by the car after its speed has been reduced for moving said guard across the cover preparatory to the cover being opened by the car, means interposed in said guard actuating means for on the guard meeting an obstruction on its movement, yielding thereto and relieving the guard from' the force impelling it, and means operable from and by the movement of said yielding means for cutting off motivq power from the car or hoist.

6. An elevator-shaft having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapted on its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, in. combination, operative mechanism therefor comprising a chain for moving said guard outwardly and inwardly and comprising two end portions or chain-members, one serving to move the guard outwardly and the other inwardly, a two-armed lever to which.

one member of said chain is connected and below which it is looped and at thebottom of the loop, weighted, a sprocket wheel mounted on the short arm of said lever, a sprocket wheel mounted at the pivot point of said lever and under which the other chain-member extends and then passes over the other sprocket wheel. and thence extends downwardly, a chain connecting said lever to the elevator-control device, and means operable from a part of the car or hoist for imparting positive movement to said other chain-member on the ascent of the car for moving saidguard outwardly,

said lever being adapted on the outward movement of said guard being obstructed, to tilt downwardly at one end to yield said other chain-member to the force pulling against it and to tilt upwardly at its other end to operate said control device, and said first-mentioned chain-member and its weight serving to automatically close said guard on the descent of the car or hoist and after said cover has closed and also serving to partly counterbalance the opening movement of said guard.

7. An elevator-shaft having anopening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapted'on its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same,v in combination, operative mechanism therefor comprising means operable from and by the ascending car or hoist for moving said guard over the 'cover' preparatory to the opening of the coverand means for cushioning theimpact of said guard against any obstruction to its movement that may be on said cover. a I

8. An elevator-shaft'having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapted on its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, in combination, operative mechanism therefor comprising means operable from and by the ascending car or hoist for moving said guard over the cover preparatory to the opening of the cover and means for automatically cutting off motive power from the canon said guard meeting an obstruction sufli ciently inert to require the stoppage of the car. 7

An elevator-shaft having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapted on its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, in combination, operative mechanism therefor comprising means operable from and by the ascending car or hoist for moving said guard over the cover preparatory to the opening of of said guarc'.

the cover, means for cushioning the impact of said guard against any obstruction to its movement that maybe on said cover and means for automatically more or less cutting off motive power fronrthe car in accordance with the degree of resistance offered by said obstruction to the movement 10. An elevator-shaft havingan opening at its upperend, a cover for said opening, an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapted on its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said, cover preparatory to the opening of the same, in combination, operative mechanism therefor comprising means operable from and by the ascending car for automatically decreasing the speed of the ,car before the car engages said cover to open the same, and means also operable from and by the car after its speed has been reduced for moving said guard across the cover preparatory to the cover being opened by the car, said means for decreasing the speed of the car comprising a tramway-bar carried by the car and deflected inwardly at its upper and lower ends, a pivoted arm engaging said tramway, a bell-crank lever connected at one member by a link to said arm and at its other member being weighted and connected by a chain to the elevator-control device,

said arm and tramway cooperating with said bell-crank to move said control device to a reduced speed position as the car is reaching the upper end of its line of travel.

11. An elevator-shaft having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapted 011 its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, in combina tion, operative mechanism therefor comprising means operable from and by the ascending car or hoist for moving said guard over the cover preparatory to the opening of the cover, and means intermediate said guard and the elevator control device for controlling the force the said guard shall exert against an obstruction that may be on said cover and for cutting off the motive power in accordance with the resistance offered by said obstruction.

12. An elevator-shaft having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapted on its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, in combination, operative mechanism therefor con'iprising means operable from and by the ascending car or hoist for moving said guard over the cover I preparatory to the opening of the cover, means operable from and by the ascending car for automatically decreasing the speed of the car before the car engages said cover to open the same, and means intermediate said guard and the elevator control device for controlling the force the said guard shall exert against an obstruction that may be on said cover and for cutting off the motive power in accord ance with the resistance offered by said obs'truction. I

13. An elevator-shaft having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevatorc a1' or hoist in said shaft adapted on its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, in combination, operative mechanism therefor comprising means operable from and by the ascending car or hoist for moving said guard over the cover preparatory to the opening of the cover and including yielding and counterbalancing elements controlling the force with which said guard shall act against an obstruction that may be on the cover.

14:. An elevator-shaft having an opening at its upper end, a. cover for said opening, an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapted on its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, in combination, operative mechanism therefor comprising means operable from and by the ascending car or hoist for moving said guard over the cover preparatory to the opening of the cover and including yielding and counterbalancing elements controlling the force with which said guard shall act against an obstruction that may be on the cover, and means for automatically decreasing the speed of the car before engaging said cover to open the same.

15. An elevator-shaft having an opening at its upper end, a cover for said opening, an elevator-car or hoist in said shaft adapted 011 its ascent to displace said cover and a guard to be moved over said cover preparatory to the opening of the same, in combination, operative mechanism therefor comprising a tramway bar on the car, a shaft (66) carrying a lever arm (67) which is in en gagement with said bar and an other lever arm a chain for moving said guard outwardly and inwardly and comprising two end portions or chain members, one serving to move the guard outwardly and the other inwardly, a two-armed lever to which one member of said chain is connected and below which it is looped and at the bottom of the loop,.weighted, a sprocket wheel mounted on the short arm of said lever, a sprocket wheel mounted at the pivot point of said lever and under which the other chain member extends and then passes over the other sprocket wheel and thence downwardly, a chain connecting said lever to the elevatorcontrol device, a pivoted lever to which the lower end of said other chain member is secured and "a weighted rod connected atits lower end to said pivoted lever and at its upper end to said lever arm 65 and to be actuated therefrom for turning said pivoted lever toexert a pull on said other chain member for operating said guard, said twoarmed lever being adapted on the outward movement ofsaid guard being obstructed, to tilt downwardly at one end to yield said other chain-member to the pull of said pivoted lever and to tilt upwardly at its other end to actuate said control device, and said first-mentioned chain-member and 1ts Weight serving to automatically close said guard 15 on the descent of the car or hoist and after said cover has closed and also to partly counterbalance the opening movement of said guard.

Signed at New York city, in the county 20 of New York and State of New York, this 1th day of January, A. D. 1922.

GUSTAVE G. LAUREYNS. 

